Chapter 19
I was watching the news this morning, just trying to catch the weather and traffic updates—my usual routine before heading out to the grind. I’ll be honest, I try to watch as little of the news as possible. I’d much rather start my day in God’s Word than with all the negativity and noise of the world. But to catch the forecast and traffic, I have to sit through a few headlines too.
This morning, one of those headlines hit me hard. A 17-year-old was on the run after shooting a 15-year-old. The story was that the younger teen’s brother had been selling a vape to the older boy. But then the 17-year-old tried to rob them for both the vape and some money. When the younger teen ran, the older boy shot him in the head. My heart broke at how senseless and tragic it all was.
I found myself thinking, how does someone get to the point where they think it’s okay to kill over a cheap vape pen? How does a heart grow that cold to the value of life?
I remembered my grandmother saying something similar when I was a kid: “These shows today are all about sex and violence—no wonder there’s so much hatred in the world.” And she was talking about Road Runner and Coyote! I used to think she was just being dramatic. But now, with all the hyper-realistic video games and entertainment that desensitize us, maybe she was on to something.
There’s a problem when we cast off restraint and live like “everything is permissible.” Boundaries aren’t about limiting freedom—they’re about guiding it. Healthy boundaries protect us and others. They allow real freedom to thrive.
As we read Leviticus 19, we see God laying out these boundaries. Not to weigh us down, but to lead us into holiness. God tells His people to be holy because He is holy. That’s the reason behind it all: relationship. God desires closeness with us, but His holiness requires that we be set apart from the ways of the world.
Now, we aren’t required to follow these Old Testament laws word-for-word today. Jesus fulfilled them. We’re not under the law anymore—but that doesn’t mean holiness no longer matters. In the New Testament, we’re still called to live holy lives. God hasn’t changed. His heart still longs for His people to be different—to reflect Him.
So how do we become holy? Through Jesus. He fulfilled every one of these laws perfectly. And as we walk with Him daily, He transforms us. Holiness isn’t about rule-following—it’s about relationship. It’s about letting His love and compassion shape us, so we become more like Him.
To be holy means to be set apart from the world’s ways. The world is full of darkness, but Jesus calls us to be a light. When we live differently—with love, kindness, and justice—people notice. And through us, they might come to know the peace that only Jesus gives.
Each verse in Leviticus 19 could be a sermon by itself. There are deep spiritual truths tucked into each command. So, as you read, don’t just focus on the “dos and don’ts.” Look deeper. Ask what God is saying through each command—what He wants to reveal in your heart.
Various Laws
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
3 ” ‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, [if the younger generation are at odds with the older generation, the foundation of society will become unstable. Thus, this commandment (the 5th of 10) is a core foundational stone for the future.] and you must observe my Sabbaths. [carrying the 4th commandment and connecting it to the same theme. Honoring Gods direction as the Highest Father, do not war against, or fight against His guidance.] I am the LORD your God.
4 ” ‘Do not turn to idols [literal: “nothings”] or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God. [any idol or god we create is in reality a “nothing”. It is superficial and void]
5 ” ‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the LORD, sacrifice it in such a way [posture of heart matters] that it will be accepted on your behalf. 6 It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. 7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. 8 Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the LORD; they must be cut off from their people.
9 ” ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God. [roughly 17% of the field is left unharvested when done like this. When can see the compassion of God and he wants us to share in this compassion – willingly?]
11 ” ‘Do not steal. “[taking anything that you know does not belong to you] ‘Do not lie. ” ‘Do not deceive one another. [in reference to using deception in order to take what doesn’t belong to you.]
12 ” ‘Do not swear [take an oath, use] falsely by my name [reputation, fame] and so profane [pollute, defile] the name of your God. I am the LORD.
13 ” ‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. ” ‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight. [this is the same as stealing]
14 ” ‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, [show a lack of concern, caring or compassion] but fear [reverence, honor, respect] your God. I am the LORD. [See how God connects our treatment of others with our love for Him?]
15 ” ‘Do not pervert [distort, confuse] justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. [this is political dynamite. God does not honor favoritism; no matter what platform, cause, culture, or position you select. God does not show favoritism, we should do likewise. God loves us equally and will judge us equally, regardless of the political fallout. He wants us to be idealist – for His ways alone.]
16 ” ‘Do not go about spreading slander [a tale bearer, gossip] among your people. ” ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
17 ” ‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart [mind, soul, knowledge, reflections, memory] . Rebuke [reason with, correct, convince] your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
18 ” ‘Do not seek revenge [vengeance, or entertain vengeance] or bear [carry, keep, maintain] a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
19 ” ‘Keep my decrees. ” ‘Do not mate different kinds of animals. ” ‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. ” ‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material. [A sign of things done by pagans then. The spiritual application is the blending of similar things to pervert the original. i.e. Look at how many religions blend the Bible and their twisted doctrines of “faith”]
20 ” ‘If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. 21 The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the tent of meeting for a guilt offering to the LORD. 22 With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the LORD for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven. [abuses of power have a consequence and are not unseen by God]
23 ” ‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. 24 In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the LORD your God. [God knew there was a time to allow things to grow. It was good for the land and the people. When fruit came, the first fruiting was to acknowledge God. Thereafter it could sustain the people. This is a lesson for all kinds of paths of life.]
26 ” ‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. ” ‘Do not practice divination or seek omens.
27 ” ‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. [this was a pagan practice. It speaks about separating oneself to not blend into the other religions.]
28 ” ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD. [also centered around pagan religious practices.]
29 ” ‘Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness. [this was about using your children in other religious practices that drew them away from God and pointed them in direction away from God. How many parents live vicariously through their children? Directing them to live a life the parents wish they had, but not toward God? OUCH!]
30 ” ‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
31 ” ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. [There is a spirit world beyond this world. The realm of eternity. With God, that eternity will be made known. But we should not play with, or try to gain access to, or understanding of, this realm outside of His Word. For there are only two paths to this world – Jesus and his path of Light, and Darkness and his billions of counterfeit illusions and false promises to confuse and tease people. Stay away from anything that does not directly confess Jesus is Lord. It is a false path; no matter what nice things they say!]
32 ” ‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.
33 ” ‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
35 ” ‘Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. 36 Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.
37 ” ‘Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the LORD.’ ” [Mat 22:37-40] 37 Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”.]
